The death penalty drum beats on - Capuano calls Coakley position "absolutely wrong."

[ccharles000]

Congressman Mike Capuano, responding to a story in this morning's Globe, blasted Martha Coakley’s rationale for "supporting a pro death penalty position" as "absolutely wrong" and said it demonstrates that "she is out of step with the progressive values of the Commonwealth."

In a press release issued this afternoon, Capuano said, “The race for Senate is about succeeding Ted Kennedy. He would have never supported this position. Ted Kennedy understood that being a U.S. Senator is about being a leader not a lawyer.”

Responding to the Globe's Matt Viser in today's article:

"Coakley and her aides argue that her signing the brief had nothing to do with the death penalty and that they were purely concerned with the legal implications of allowing federal courts more discretion in reviewing decisions that state courts have already made, which Coakley asserts would take additional time, money, and resources...“I have positions that I’ve presented during the campaign, but I’m still the attorney general and I have to do the job as attorney general that I was elected to,’’ Coakley said. “If I did otherwise would I not be criticized for doing something political?"

Capuano didn't accept her rational for getting involved in the issue:

“Ms. Coakley claims her duties as AG compelled her to be involved in this case. That is simply not true. AG’s in surrounding states did not participate and Massachusetts should not have either. She is obliged to defend cases in Massachusetts. She is not required to sign on in support of a case involving a death sentence for a developmentally disabled individual in the state of Alabama.”

http://www.kennedyseat.com/2009/11/death-penalty-drum-beats-on-capuano.html